Shades Of Thomson: Morris’ Hr Lifts Lsu
College World Series
Warren Morris’ first homer of the season was one he’ll never forget. Neither will anyone else who watched LSU win the College World Series Saturday on Morris’ two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Morris, a preseason All-America who missed most of the season after breaking his right hand, hit a line drive that just cleared the right-field fence and gave LSU a 9-8 victory over Miami in the championship game.
“To tell you the truth, I thought it was going to be to the warning track and maybe hit the wall,” Morris said. “I wasn’t sure how far it was going. I didn’t think I could hit it that far.”
It went far enough to give LSU (52-15) its third CWS title, all since 1991, and deny Miami (50-14) its third championship.
The homer off Miami freshman relief ace Robbie Morrison (4-2) set off a wild celebration by the Tigers, who mobbed Morris as he crossed the plate.
Miami players were stunned by the homer, which triggered memories of famous big league homers by Bill Mazeroski, Joe Carter and Bobby Thomson that won pennants or World Series.
Shortstop Alex Cora, who had given Miami an 8-7 lead in the top of the ninth, collapsed face down on the field, and several Hurricanes covered their faces with towels in their dugout.
“I thought I was going to be a hero and we were going to win,” said Cora, who had three hits and drove in three runs. “We were so close.”
Morris missed 40 games after breaking his right hand in April, and returned to the lineup just before the regionals. LSU was 22-0 with Morris in the starting lineup this season.
“It’s been a tough year but it’s worth it,” Morris said. “It’s unbelievable. I really don’t remember what happened from the time I touched first base until I touched home. The reason I remember touching home was because I had to get through 25 guys to hit it. I wasn’t really trying to hit a home run and be a hero. I was just trying to get a hit and keep the inning going.”
Miami had taken the 8-7 lead when T.R. Marcinczyk doubled with two outs and Cora singled him home. It was the first run off LSU reliever Patrick Coogan (6-0) since he entered the game with two outs in the sixth.
“I don’t think there’s a tougher way to lose because our kids were one pitch away from a national championship,” Miami coach Jim Morris said.
Morrison and some of his teammates were so shocked by the loss that they refused to talk to the media.
Brad Wilson led off the LSU ninth with a double and went to third on a groundout before Morris hit his game-winning homer.
“I looked up and saw the home run and then next thing I know I’m on top of the dugout yelling,” Coogan said.
LSU 9, Miami 8
Miami 200 032 001 8 14 2
LSU 003 000 222 9 15 2
Arteaga, Morrison (7) and Gargiulo; Shipp, Coogan (6) and Lanier. W-Coogan, 6-0. L-Morrison, 4-2. HR-LSU, W.Morris (1).